Update on WWE’s Great American Bash and Big TV Deals

– In what could be a major change for pro wrestling, Shane McMahon announced at a press conference on 9/9 that a RAW replay will be airing from 3-5PM on Saturdays on the Televisa Channel 9 in Mexico. This is interesting because that is the regular time slot that the CMLL Friday night matches have been airing in. No word yet if this will cause CMLL to be bumped from the network but they already air the AAA promotion and carrying three wrestling companies may be a bit much. Super Luchas also reports that WWE and TV Azteca have signed a deal for SmackDown to begin airing on Friday nights on 10/3. RAW will be airing live on TVC Deportes on Monday nights as well.

– The trend of WWE’s 2008 pay-per-views beating the 2007 pay-per-views did not continue with this year’s Great American Bash. The show only drew 195,000 buys worldwide, based on WWE’s early internal estimates. This would be WWE’s second lowest number of the year, barely beating One Night Stand at 194,000 buys. The early North American buys for the Bash is 122,000 buys. The show featured Jericho vs. Michaels, Triple H vs. Edge, CM Punk vs. Batista and John Cena vs. JBL.